For the reasons set out in the background section, the
CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive
(AD)AD/GENERAL/78. and issues the following
AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action
set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers
necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the
aircraft mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances
mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions
set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the
compliance section.

Aircraft - General

AD/GENERAL/78 Amdt 1

Fuel Contamination

2/2000 TX

Applicability:

Aircraft refuelled during one or more of the
periods and at one or more of the locations detailed below with 100/130
AVGAS (green dyed fuel) released from Mobil at Yarraville Victoria:

(a) 24 November 1999 to 23 December 1999 in Victoria, New South
Wales, Australian Capital Territory or south of Townsville in Queensland,
or

(b) 21 November 1999 to 23 November 1999 at Bankstown, Albury,
Hay or Griffith in New South Wales; or Essendon or Moorabbin in Victoria.

Note 1: Includes turbine aircraft that have
been approved to operate on 100/130 AVGAS.

The determination of aircraft applicability
is to be carried out by the Certificate of Registration holder or an agent
authorised in writing by the Certificate of Registration holder.

This determination shall be carried out by contacting fuel suppliers
at locations where 100/130 AVGAS fuel was uplifted in the periods of concern
and obtaining documented evidence of the oil company's status of that fuel.
Such documented evidence shall be retained as an aircraft maintenance record.

Note 2: Documented evidence from an airfield representative of BP
or an aviation agent/distributor/supplier of Mobil, at the location where
the fuel was purchased, that the fuel uplifted was not released from Mobil
Yarraville Victoria during the period 21 November 1999 through 23 December
1999 is acceptable evidence that the fuel is not contaminated.

Requirement:

1: CANCELLED

2: Aircraft refuelled only with fuel deemed by the supplier not to have
been released from Mobil Yarraville Victoria during the period 21 November
1999 through 23 December 1999 may be returned to service. For such aircraft,
the following statement shall be recorded and certified on the aircraft
maintenance release and in the aircraft log book, by the Certificate of
Registration holder or an agent authorised in writing:

"The aircraft fuel uplifts have been deemed
by (name of fuel supplier) not to have been released from Mobil Yarraville
Victoria in the period 21 November 1999 to 23 December 1999. This aircraft
has been cleared for flight in accordance with CAR 1998 Part 39, AD/GENERAL/78
Amdt 1."

3: Aircraft refuelled with fuel deemed by the supplier to be fuel released
from Mobil Yarraville Victoria during the period 21 November 1999 through
23 December 1999 shall be removed from service. For such aircraft, the
following statement shall be recorded and certified on the aircraft maintenance
release and in the aircraft log book:

"This aircraft is unairworthy. The aircraft fuel system is contaminated
and the aircraft has been removed from service in accordance with CAR 1998
Part 39, AD/GENERAL/78 Amdt 1."

Note 3: Certification made per the original issue of this Airworthiness
Directive satisfies the intent of this requirement.

Compliance:

Effective 12 January 2000:

Before further flight. However, the aircraft
may be flown direct to another location to enable maintenance to be carried
out, subject to:

(a) the total flight time not exceeding 5 hours, and

(b) operating crew only being carried in the aircraft, and

(c) the aircraft being flown only in day/VFR operation, and

(d) flight over water being conducted within gliding distance
of land.

Terminating action for aircraft rendered unserviceable
by Requirement 3 of this Directive, may be:

(a) compliance with an "approved procedure to de-contaminate
an affected aircraft", or

(b) replacement of the entire aircraft fuel system and engine fuel system
with serviceable components in accordance with approved maintenance data.

For the purpose of this Airworthiness Directive an "approved procedure
to de-contaminate an effected aircraft" is one that has been approved by
CASA per CAR (1988) 2A(4) or a procedure approved by the aircraft manufacturer.

Note 4: As of the issue date of this Airworthiness
Directive, neither CASA nor any aircraft manufacturer has approved a de-contamination
procedure. Approved procedures will be advised as they are developed.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 12 January 2000.

Compliance with the original issue of this Airworthiness Directive satisfies
the requirements of this amendment.

Background:

This Directive has been issued to address concern
for the safety of aircraft fuelled with 100/130 AVGAS known to have been
contaminated during the refinery process. Following compliance with AD/GENERAL/77,
there has been substantial evidence of fuel system contamination re-occurring
in aircraft that have complied with the requirements of that Directive.
It is now known that the contaminant, Ethylene
Di-Amine, can also exist as a clear substance as well as a black sticky
substance as previously advised.

Requirement 1 has been cancelled as it has now
been included in the applicability determination.

CASA is working closely with aircraft manufacturers
and oil companies to develop expeditiously separate procedures which will:

verify with confidence if contamination is or is not present, and

satisfactorily clean the contamination from the aircraft and engine fuel
systems.

The results will be made available as soon as
possible.

This amendment:

revises the applicability to include turbine engines,

clarifies responsibility in identifying aircraft applicability,

formalises retention of documented evidence from the fuel supplier,

identifies requirements for terminating action for aircraft rendered unserviceable
as a result of fuel contamination.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive superseded CAR 1998
Part 39 AD/GENERAL/77 which was cancelled 10 January 2000.

Richard G Yates
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

12 January 2000

The above AD is notified in the
Commonwealth
of Australia Gazette on 12 January 2000.